Top 10 least, most expensive real estate markets

Screenshot of most expensive (in red) and least expensive (in yellow) states according to Coldwell Banker’s Home Listing Report. Click on image for interactive map with local market data.

Six out of the 10 most expensive housing markets in the U.S. are in California, according to an annual report from Coldwell Banker Real Estate released today.

The Home Listing Report examined average listing prices for four-bedroom, two-bathroom homes in more than 2,300 markets in the U.S. and Canada between September 2010 and March 2011. The data includes listings from Coldwell Banker affiliates and other Realogy franchise brands on coldwellbanker.com. U.S. markets had to have at least 10 properties fitting these criteria to be included; Canada markets had to have at least five.

Among the most expensive U.S. markets, Newport Beach, Calif. topped the list for the second straight year with an average listing price of $2.54 million, nearly $1 million more than the second most expensive market on the list, Pacific Palisades, Calif., a district of Los Angeles about 50 miles to the north.

10 most expensive U.S. markets:

Market

State

Average listing price (Sep. 2010 – March 2011)

NEWPORT BEACH

CA

$2,537,126

PACIFIC PALISADES

CA

$1,606,992

STONE HARBOR

NJ

$1,344,908

RANCHO PALOS VERDES

CA

$1,312,538

SARATOGA

CA

$1,281,889

LOS GATOS

CA

$1,261,176

WESTON

MA

$1,228,100

GREENWICH

CT

$1,154,293

MERCER ISLAND

WA

$1,143,521

CUPERTINO

CA

$1,140,656

Source: Coldwell Banker

The least expensive U.S. market on the list was Niagara Falls, N.Y. with an average listing price of $60,820. That’s a difference of nearly $2.5 million from the most expensive U.S. market. By comparison, the difference between the most and least expensive markets in Canada was $1.4 million: Vancouver, British Columbia ($1.55 million) and Windsor, Ontario ($144,460), respectively.

Georgia accounted for three out of the 10 least expensive markets in the U.S. All three (Riverdale, College Park and Lithonia) are within a 20-mile commute to Atlanta, which has an average listing price of $255,448, the report said.

10 least expensive U.S. markets:

Market

State

Average listing price (Sep. 2010 – March 2011)

NIAGARA FALLS

NY

$60,820

RIVERDALE

GA

$61,618

COOLIDGE

AZ

$69,083

COLLEGE PARK

GA

$72,477

DETROIT

MI

$73,363

HASTINGS

FL

$74,910

CLEVELAND

OH

$76,042

LITHONIA

GA

$77,385

TROTWOOD

OH

$77,445

SIOUX CITY

IA

$80,152

Source: Coldwell Banker

California saw the biggest disparity in prices between its most and least expensive markets: Newport Beach ($2.54 million) in Orange County and Rosamond ($108,263) in Kern County, respectively.

Nebraska had the most parity between its most and least expensive markets: Kearney ($163,300) in Buffalo County and North Platte ($140,440) in Lincoln County, respectively.